Fan housing

ABSTRACT

A fan housing for surrounding the rotor of a fan. The fan housing has a first frame and a second frame. The first frame includes at least one extending part with a first engaging member. The second frame includes a guide slot and a second engaging member corresponding to the first engaging member to enable the first and second frames to be detachably assembled together.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a fan housing, and in particular, to a fan housing provided with engaging members.

FIG. 1 depicts a conventional fan, wherein the fan 1 has a top cover 12, a base 13 and a motor 14. The top cover 12 has through holes 121. The base 13 has holes 131 corresponding to the through holes 121 of the top cover 12. Screws 15 pass through the through holes 121 into the holes 131 to join the top cover 12 and the base 13 together.

FIG. 2 depicts another conventional fan, wherein the fan 2 has a top cover 22, a base 23 and a motor 24. The top cover 22 has engaging parts 221. The base 23 has grooves 231 corresponding to the engaging parts 221 of the top cover 22. The top cover 22 and the base 23 are joined together with the grooves 231 engaged by the engaging parts 221.

The described fans present some significant problems. For the first mentioned fan, the screws 15 joining the top cover 12 and the base 13 may loosen after long-term use. Furthermore, screwing is labor consuming. For the second mentioned fan, the engaging parts 221 engaging the grooves 231 may loosen or even break after long-term use. As a possible result, the fan is not maintained in position and the performance of the electronic device beside the fan is negatively influenced.

SUMMARY

To solve the described problems, the invention provides a fan housing provided with engaging member.

The fan housing in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention is used to surround a rotor of a fan. The fan housing comprises a first frame and a second frame. The first frame comprises at least one extending part and an engaging hole defined by the extending part. The second frame comprises a guide slot and a protrusion corresponding to the extending part and the engaging hole respectively. The first and second frames are detachably assembled, with the extending part inserted into the guide slot, and the protrusion disposed in the engaging hole. The first frame is a top cover of the fan housing and defines an air inlet. An edge of the air inlet is straight to prevent a backflow in the fan. The second frame is a base of the fan housing, and the first and second frames are assembled via the engaging members to form an air outlet. The second frame comprises an opening serving as an air inlet. The fan is provided with an air inlet or two air inlets. The fan may be a centrifugal fan or an axial fan.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a conventional fan;

FIG. 2 depicts another conventional fan;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a fan in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a fan in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 3, a fan 3 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is a single-intake centrifugal fan which comprises a first frame 31, a second frame 32, a stator base 33, and a rotor 37.

The first frame 31 comprises an extending part 311 and an air inlet 314. The extending part 311 has a first engaging member (e.g. an engaging hole) 312. The air inlet 314 has a block 315 which is straight to prevent a backflow in the fan 3. The extending part 311 extends from a periphery of the first frame 31. The number of the extending parts 311 may be plural. As shown in FIG. 3, four extending parts 311 are provided in this embodiment.

The second frame 32 comprises an air outlet 35 and a guide slot 321 corresponding to the extending part 311 of the first frame 31. A second engaging member (e.g. a protrusion) 322 is provided on an inner wall 3212 of the guide slot 321. A plurality of ribs 3211 are provided on both side walls 3213 of the guide slot 321. The protrusion 322 has an inclined surface 3221. The guide slot 321 and the protrusion 322 are disposed at an outer surface of the second frame 32. The number of the guide slots 321 and the protrusions 322 may be plural. As shown in FIG. 3, four guide slots 321 and protrusions 322 are provided in this embodiment.

When the extending part 311 is inserted into the guide slot 321, the inclined surface 3221 facilitates the protrusion 322 to engage with the engaging hole 312. Furthermore, ribs 3211 in the guide slot 321 abut the extending part 311 and help relieve excessive strain.

The first frame 31 in this embodiment is the top cover of the single-intake centrifugal fan 3, while the second frame 32 is the base. The stator base 33 is disposed in the second frame 32 for receiving an external stator (not shown). The rotor 37 is disposed around the stator base 33 to generate an interaction therebetween. The first frame 31 and the second frame 32 are assembled via the first engaging member 312 and the second engaging member 322 to house the rotor 37. Airflow enters the air inlet 314 of the first frame 31 and exits from the air outlet 35 of the second frame 32. The first and second frames 31, 32 are both formed by injection molding, pressing or cutting.

FIG. 4 depicts a dual-intake centrifugal fan 4 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, wherein the same references will be used for elements which are identical or similar to those shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, an opening serving as another air inlet 36 is provided on the second frame 32. Thus, airflow enters the air inlets 314, 36 and exits from the air outlet 35. The second frame 32 further comprises a plurality of connecting parts 34 connecting the stator base 33 and the second frame 32. The connecting parts 34 also support the stator base 33. Furthermore, the air inlet 314 has no straight edge.

It is understood that various fans (e.g. single-intake centrifugal fans, dual-intake centrifugal fans, and axial fans) are applicable to the invention.

For both the prior art and the invention, the fan housing provides the rotor of the fan with protection. The fan housing of the invention, however, does not have problems presented in the prior art. The invention prevents using screws for joining the frames loosening after long-term use and the process for screwing required. The invention also avoids the potential breakage of the protrusion and the potential loosening of the protrusion. Furthermore, the invention provides ribs to secure the extending part tightly in the guide slot, even if the guide slot is larger than the extending part due to the manufacturing tolerance. In sum, the invention provides strong engaging members, improves the manufacturing speed and saves labor.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements. 

1. A fan housing comprising: a first frame comprising at least one extending part with a first engaging member; a second frame comprising a guide slot and a second engaging member corresponding to the first engaging member to enable the first and second frames to be detachably assembled together.
 2. The fan housing as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a stator base disposed in the second frame, and a plurality of connecting parts for connecting the stator base and the second frame.
 3. The fan housing as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one rib provided on a side wall of the guide slot.
 4. The fan housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first engaging member and the second engaging member are an engaging hole and a protrusion, respectively.
 5. The fan housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second frames are both formed by injection molding, pressing or cutting.
 6. The fan housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the extending part extends from a periphery of the first frame.
 7. The fan housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second engaging member comprises an inclined surface.
 8. The fan housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide slot and the second engaging member are formed at an outer surface of the second frame.
 9. The fan housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first frame is a top cover of the fan housing and provided with an air inlet having a block to prevent a backflow.
 10. The fan housing as claimed in claim 9, wherein the block of the air inlet is straight.
 11. The fan housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second frame is a base of the fan housing, and the first and second frames are assembled to form an air outlet.
 12. The fan housing as claimed in claim 11, wherein the second frame comprises an opening serving as an air inlet.
 13. A fan comprising: a first frame comprising at least one extending part with a first engaging member; a second frame comprising a guide slot and a second engaging member corresponding to the first engaging member to enable the first and second frames to be detachably assembled together; and a rotor mounted in a space surrounded by the first and second frames.
 14. The fan as claimed in claim 13, further comprising at least one rib provided on a side wall of the guide slot.
 15. The fan as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first and second engaging members are a engaging hole and a protrusion, respectively.
 16. The fan as claimed in claim 13, wherein the extending part extends from a periphery of the first frame.
 17. The fan as claimed in claim 13, wherein the second engaging member is provided on an inner wall of the guide slot.
 18. The fan as claimed in claim 13, wherein the second engaging member comprises an inclined surface.
 19. The fan as claimed in claim 13, wherein the guide slot and the second engaging member are disposed at an outer surface of the second frame. 